Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Madam Chair. If they were there before and they weren’t being established, so now we want to capture them with the interim appropriation for next year. I think I’m getting a little bit confused here. Maybe if the Minister could clarify this for me again.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When we look at on-the-land treatment programs, we look at it from an Aboriginal perspective through a holistic view, and that means looking at the whole four parts of the human being: the mental, the emotional, the physical and the spiritual. The Minister is on track on this process right here. I want to ask the Minister, has he looked at other types of programs that we’re talking about today that could be used as the model in the Northwest Territories, across Canada where people, Aboriginal people, all people can use this type of model for healing their addictions?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services when the people in my communities are asking for support and help in dealing with the drug and alcohol programs, can the Minister tell this House and the people in the Sahtu when can they expect to see such types of programs being implemented in my regions that will support my people’s wishes and that possibly could work for them instead of looking at buildings that other regions have. When can the Minister put something concrete in this House to support my people?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

I want to say publicly I really appreciate the Minister taking time out of his busy schedule to visit the people in the Sahtu and hear face to face as to what needs to happen on certain issues. That’s really appreciated of this government to get the Ministers into our community.

Now, the Minister indicated to me that he will see when he gets back to Yellowknife how he can work with his colleagues to see what type of support he can get to enhance the on-the-land treatment program. It would be much appreciated. Can the Minister tell me any more than what he has already told the people in the...

Mr. Speaker, money comes and money goes. Look at the relationship at a moral cost to us on a government-to-government relationship. Are we willing to pay that cost for some short-term gains for long-term damages?

It’s a heavy cost to this government here. We could use the money, but how bad are we willing to not mend some broken hearts between us and the Gwich’in Tribal Council? That cost is more important to me, so that’s what I want to ask the Premier: What will he do, what can this government do? When it comes to a final agreement, do people in the Northwest Territories have a say in saying...

I actually have a copy right here, and the Premier was right on the priorities. We also have a goal for a strong and independent North built on partnership, and if we don’t have those types of partnerships, how can we build a strong and independent North? We only have a few of the partners on board.

I want to ask the Premier, when they’re looking at the Devolution Agreement, is the Premier and this government going to look at a referendum where people will have a chance to say this is a good deal or not a deal we should be signing?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to talk about the issue of devolution and the importance of this issue here in the Northwest Territories. In our communities we are not hearing enough on it. For example, once devolution, whenever it gets completed to a final deal, will it be a vote throughout the Northwest Territories to say yes, people in the North want this deal to go through, or will it be like in the last government where seven Cabinet Ministers said this is what we’re going to do, we’re going to sign it with the majority of the Aboriginal governments not participating or wanting our...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues.

WHEREAS Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, is celebrating her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, which marks 60 years since her accession to the throne on February 6, 1952;

AND WHEREAS Her Majesty the Queen will become only the second United Kingdom monarch to mark 60 years on the throne;

AND WHEREAS Royal Jubilees celebrate significant periods in monarchs’ reign and national life;

AND WHEREAS such important milestones in Her Majesty’s personal and public life should be celebrated widely;

AND WHEREAS such events help reinforce the sovereign’s role as a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, February 9, 2012, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that the Legislative Assembly send the following message to Her Majesty:

Her Majesty the Queen, Most Gracious Sovereign, Queen of Canada:

We, the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories of Canada, wish to extend our sincere congratulations to Your Majesty on this year of celebration marking the 60th anniversary of your accession.

The people of the Northwest Territories have been honoured to welcome Your...